George Clymer 1950s
George Clymer 1963
| No | Name | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| AP55, 2.1943- APA25 | Arthur Middleton (ex-African Comet) | 265 | Ingalls, Pascagoula // Bethlehem, San Francisco | 7.1940 | 28.6.1941 | 9.1942 | stricken 10.1958 |
| AP56, 2.1943- APA26 | Samuel Chase (ex-African Meteor) | 266 | Ingalls, Pascagoula | 8.1940 | 25.8.1941 | 6.1942 | stricken 10.1958 |
| AP57, 2.1943- APA27 | George Clymer (ex-African Planet) | 267 | Ingalls, Pascagoula | 10.1940 | 27.9.1941 | 6.1942 | stricken 1967 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
10812 - 11760 |
|
Displacement full, t |
18000 |
|
Length, m |
149.1 |
|
Breadth, m |
21.3 |
|
Draught, m |
8,30 |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
General Electric geared steam turbine, 2 Foster Wheeler boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
8500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
16.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 1392 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 11000(15) |
|
Armament |
1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 4 x 1 - 12.7/90 |
|
Military load |
22 LCVP, 2 - 4 LCM(3), cargo, 1304 troops by 1945: 4 LCM(6), 18 LCVP, 3 LCPL, 2 LCPR, 2700t of cargo, 1240 marines |
| Electronic equipment | probably SC or SF or SL radar |
| Complement | 578 |
Project history: USN military transport vessels were sectioned into two groups: ÀÐ for transportation of troops and ÀÊ for carriage of goods and technics. The majority of them were built on the basis of standard types Ñ2, Ñ3 and Ñ4 and differed from usual cargo ships a little.
For delivery of troops and cargoes directly to a beaching place assault landing transport ships (ÀÐÀ and ÀÊÀ) served, which main difference from ÀÊ and ÀÐ consisted that they were extra equipped with disembarkation craft of LCVP, LCM and LCP (L) types; with their help delivery of people and cargoes to beach also was effected.
Originally similar ships were not outlined in own subclass and were registered as ÀÐ and ÀÊ. In February, 1943 reorganisation was done and assault transports have received indexation ÀÐÀ and ÀÊÀ.
Two ships of Doyen class, projected even on the eve of war for landing operations in Caribbean basin, became the first American assault military transports. The overwhelming majority of remaining ÀÐÀ and ÀÊÀ has been converted from merchant cargo and cargo-passenger vessels or constructed in hulls of standard cargo vessels built by the big series in days of war. An exception were specially projected as assault transports Gilliam (ÀÐÀ) and Artemis (ÀÊÀ) classes.
Besides the large landing transport ships of ÀÐÀ and ÀÊÀ classes, small landing parties and subversive groups were landed by fast landing transports (APD) converted from become outdated Wickes and Clemson classes destroyers and destroyer escorts of Buckley and Rudderow classes.
Arthur Middleton class transports were built in standard C3-P type hulls.
Modernizations: by 1945 ships were armed with 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12,
4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20, 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar1/1946: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20/21, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar
Naval service: No significant events.
Samuel Chase
© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15